Maeve
4 years old · Cape Porpoise
A show-coated Setter whose feathering gets a full line brush every visit. She loves the finishing comb.
Breed Grooming Guide 5.0 · Southern Maine
Irish Setter Dog Grooming.
That mahogany coat is the whole reason people fall for Irish Setters, and it's also the reason they need a groomer who knows what to do with fine, silky feathering. Setter coat mats quietly — under the ears, behind the elbows, along the skirt — and shows every bit of neglect. K-Pup grooms Irish Setters mobile, one dog at a time, with the scissor work and patient brushing this coat actually requires.
Coat, Feathering & Finish
A silky coat with very specific needs.
Show and field lines carry noticeably different amounts of coat, and each is groomed a little differently. For breed background, see the AKC Irish Setter breed page.
Show-Line Coats
Heavy, long feathering on the ears, chest, belly, legs and tail. Beautiful when maintained, and quick to mat if brushing stops for a couple of weeks.
Field-Line Coats
Field Setters carry lighter feathering that handles brush and burrs better. They still need ear care and skirt trimming, just less scissor work overall.
The Ear Feathering
The long hair on a Setter's ear leather mats against the head and traps moisture in the canal. It's the single most important area to brush at home.
Puppies & Seniors
Setter puppies grow into their coat around a year old and should be brushed long before they need it. Seniors get shorter sessions and, often, a shorter practical trim.
Built For A Silky Red Coat
Line brushing, careful scissoring and clean ears.
Line brushing, not surface brushing
Setter mats form at the skin under a smooth-looking top coat. We work in sections from the skin out so the coat is genuinely tangle-free, not just glossy on top.
Hand-scissored shaping
Feet, hocks, the skirt and the ear fringe are shaped with shears to keep the classic Setter outline. Clippers would ruin the texture of this coat.
Ear cleaning and drying
Long ear leather plus long ear feathering equals a warm, damp canal. We clean and dry thoroughly and keep the hair underneath the ear trimmed to let air move.
Coat conditioning for Maine winters
Dry indoor heat makes fine Setter coat brittle and static-prone. A conditioning treatment in the cold months keeps it sliding instead of knotting.
The Irish Setter Club of America maintains grooming and health guidance for the breed.
Services
Irish Setter grooming services.
01
Full Setter Groom
Bath, conditioning, full line brush-out, hand-scissored feet, hocks, skirt and ear fringe, ear cleaning and nails.
02
Detangle & Condition
A focused session for coats that have started to mat, with conditioning treatment and gentle sectioned dematting where the coat allows.
03
Practical Trim
A shorter, lower-maintenance version of the Setter outline for active dogs, seniors or owners who'd rather not brush daily.
Our Process
How we groom a Irish Setter.
Every irish setter appointment follows the same order, start to finish, in the trailer in your driveway. Typical appointment time: about 2 hr, one dog at a time.
Pre-bath line brushing
The feathering is brushed in sections from the skin out, because bathing a matted Setter coat only tightens the tangles.
Bath and conditioner
A gentle shampoo followed by a conditioning treatment that keeps the fine silky coat sliding instead of knotting.
Directional blow-dry
The coat is dried in the direction it lies so the feathering falls correctly and the finish stays smooth.
Hand-scissored shaping
Feet, hocks, skirt and ear fringe shaped with shears to keep the classic Setter outline and coat texture.
Ear cleaning
Ears cleaned and dried, with the hair underneath thinned so air can move through the canal.
Nails and finish
Nails trimmed and ground, then a final comb-through of the feathering before your Setter is done.
This is the full step-by-step process K-Pup Dog Grooming uses for Irish Setters in southern Maine.
Client Spotlight
Our favorite Irish Setters.
A few of the Irish Setters we look forward to seeing on the schedule — regulars from around southern Maine who hop up on the table like they own the trailer.
Finn
1 year old · Arundel
Just growing into his adult coat. We're building good brushing habits early so he never mats.
Rosie
12 years old · Kennebunk
A senior on a shorter practical trim. Comfort first, glamour second — though she still looks the part.
Fun Facts
The best things about Irish Setters.
We groom a lot of Irish Setters, and every one of them reminds us why the breed has such a loyal following. Here's what we love about the irish setter.
That color has a name
The breed standard calls for a rich chestnut or mahogany red with no black — one of the most recognizable coats in dogdom.
Bred to 'set' game birds
Setters crouched low — 'set' — near birds so hunters could throw a net over both dog and quarry.
Slow to grow up
Irish Setters are famously puppyish well into their third year, which owners find either delightful or exhausting.
A presidential breed
President Nixon's Irish Setter, King Timahoe, lived in the White House and helped popularize the breed in the 1970s.
The feathering is the work
Body coat is easy; the ears, chest, belly, legs and tail feathering are where nearly all Setter grooming time goes.
Related Breeds
Similar coats we groom.
Irish Setters share brushing, drying, and trimming needs with these breeds — each guide covers coat care, timing, and pricing for mobile grooming in southern Maine.
Boykin Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
Cocker Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
English Cocker Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
English Springer Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
Airedale Terrier Dog Grooming
Hand-tidy terrier trims
Where We Groom Irish Setters
Irish Setter grooming across southern Maine.
Looking for an Irish Setter groomer near you? K-Pup's mobile trailer covers southern Maine — pick your town and book a driveway appointment. See all our locations →
Kennebunkport Irish Setter GroomingKennebunk Irish Setter GroomingCape Porpoise Irish Setter GroomingGoose Rocks Beach Irish Setter GroomingArundel Irish Setter GroomingBiddeford Irish Setter GroomingSaco Irish Setter GroomingWells Irish Setter GroomingOgunquit Irish Setter GroomingYork Irish Setter GroomingOld Orchard Beach Irish Setter GroomingScarborough Irish Setter Grooming
Irish Setter Grooming FAQ
Questions Irish Setters owners ask us.
How often should an Irish Setter be groomed?
Every 6 to 8 weeks professionally, with brushing at home two or three times a week. Coats in full show length need more frequent attention.
Can I shave my Irish Setter in the summer?
We don't recommend it. The coat provides sun protection and insulation, and it often grows back with a different, cottonier texture. A shorter practical trim is the better option.
Why does my Setter mat behind the ears?
Fine feathering rubs against the neck and collar all day, which felts the hair at the skin. Brushing that area twice a week prevents almost all of it.
Do Irish Setters shed?
Yes, moderately and year-round, with heavier seasonal shedding. Regular bathing and blow-drying keeps loose coat from felting into mats.
My Setter is already matted. What happens?
We assess honestly. Light mats come out with conditioner and patient sectioned brushing; tight mats at the skin are safer and kinder to trim out than to force.